Vintage Rides, Rapid City

OutsideSep 15

I Traded My Mountain Bike for a Motorcycle to Ride Across South Dakota’s Badlands

Turning 50 inspired our national parks columnist to swap his mountain bike for a motorized one so he could vroom through South Dakota’s Badlands National Park and Black Hills National Forest—one of the world’s most iconic motorcycle routes.

small operation renting Royal Enfeld Himalayans

14 things in this story

Royal Enfeld HimalayansPlaceclassic adventure bike designed for road and dirt
Motorcycle Safety FoundationPlaceorganizes bike education courses across the country
Hotel Alex JohnsonHotelcool hotel downtown with a good ghost story
Windsor Block BarRestaurantbest cocktail bar within walking distance
Vintage RidesPlacesmall operation renting Royal Enfeld Himalayans
Elsewhere
Black Hills National ForestSightBlack Hills, United Statesdirt roads, archeological sites, caves, ghost towns
Sage Creek RoadTrailBadlands, United Stateslong gravel road onto a plateau with views
Scenic Loop RoadTrailBadlands, United Statespaved road through the heart of tan cliffs and spires
Notch TrailTrailBadlands, United Stateswinds through a canyon to a ladder with a view
Iron Mountain RoadTrailBlack Hills, United States17-mile blacktop connecting Custer State Park with Mount Rushmore
Custer State ParkNature reserveCuster, United Statesrolling plains full of buffalo, towering cliffs, cold lakes
Wildlife LoopTrailCuster, United States18-mile loop around the park to see buffalo and antelope
Sylvan LakeSightCuster, United States17-acre reservoir where water meets tall, tan cliffs
Pactola LakeSightBlack Hills, United Statesarea for exploring dirt roads in Black Hills National Forest

Read the full piece at Outside →

Vintage Rides

In the coverage1 story

I Traded My Mountain Bike for a Motorcycle to Ride Across South Dakota’s Badlands